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Exactly 50 years ago today, February 3, 1959 three musicians were tragically killed in a small plane crash in a cornfield near Clear Lake, Iowa. They were Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson, aka “The Big Bopper”. All were up and comers in the world of rock and roll.

In fact the loss of them is felt more today, than it was at the time. I was only 9 years of age back then, but as time went on I like others realized what a great loss it truly was. All were young, Ritchie Valens was only 17, the others in their early twenties.

February 3, 1959 – “the day the music died” as the Don Mclean song, American Pie claimed. Music didn’t die that day, but a hole was left. Fortunately for all of us it was filled and their music lives on.